20 minutes – the victims of Solothurn were all asylum seekers

A day after the fire of six dead in the city of Solothurn, the identification of victims is still ongoing. In the meantime, everything indicates that the dead are asylum seekers.

In the property affected by the fire, the canton has rented two floors for accommodation of asylum seekers, said the mayor of Solothurn, Kurt Fluri, at the "Solothurner Zeitung". Some children went to kindergarten in Solothurn.

As reported by residents of the region for 20 minutes, four out of six victims are members of an Eritrean family. So, father, mother and two daughters have not been seen since the fire.

The victims of Solothurn

Commemoration for the victims

Françoise Kopf, head of the organization IOS SOS Racism Solothurn, is taking care of asylum seekers living in the affected home. Tuesday, she wanted to get an idea of ​​the situation. In a 20-minute interview, she said the house was dilapidated. "Who would want to live here should first renovate." In addition, the house was too busy. So once a family of six had to share two rooms, as Kopf said. That there was a fire alarm in the house, she does not know: "I did not notice anyone."

Interview with Françoise Kopf, head of IGA SOS Racisme Soleure. (Source: Stefan Ehrbar / 20 minutes)

According to the president of the city, Fluri, nine people were registered there. However, at the time of the fire, 20 people remained in the building, as had already been reported by the cantonal police in Solothurn on Monday.

The city of Solothurn is preparing a memorial service for the victims. However, it was first necessary to know which religious communities the victims belonged to, Fluri continued.

Cigarette lit

The fire of a property in the city of Solothurn killed six people, including children, early Monday morning. According to the police, a cigarette had been burned in a residential building. One person was arrested.

The devastating fire originated on a lower floor and generated thick smoke. This has spread throughout the building. The fire completely destroyed the ground floor.

(EHS / qll / SDA)